New target date for woolpacks

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 336, 15 May 1990, Page 5

New target date for woolpacks

Farmers who think 1992 is the final date for using capped woolpacks have got it wrong, says the Wool Board grower services manager, Lance Wiggins. "That is the last date at which wool may be exported in the old packs, but we expect the supply to dry up by next autumn," he says. A meeting with pack importers, retailers and manufacturers of conversion kits was held in Wellington last month to plan for the changeover, he says. Mr Wiggins said there is a common idea that 1992 is the deadline. "Farmers will be most affected when imports of the old packs stop in September this year. Importers are not holding large stocks and recyclers do not expect to have many left by March next year. Growers", he said, "should

convert their presses well before main shear in case there are difficulties. They should also put through one or two practice bales." The Wool Board provides advice on conversions and has posters for the guidance of wool pressers. Suppliers of woolpacks and wool press conversion kits are going to be cautious in the 1990-91 season. A spokesman for the importers said they were not building up stocks of old-style packs. They did not want to be caught with packs overseas when the cutoff date was reached in September 1990. Pack importers said that stocks of conventional packs will likely be exhausted by Christmas. "No-one is going to hold stocks of old packs for very long." For the freezing companies, a speaker said

that a third had converted their presses and the remainder were using up their stocks of the old packs. i